Robert j



(No Model.)

B. J. WATTS.

DEVICE FOR HANGING MAPS 0R CURTAINS.

No. 441,994. Patented Dec. 2, 1890.

l 5 device to support and protect.

I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ROBERT J. \VATTS, OF SHELBYVILLE, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TOJOSEPH METZLER, OF SAME PLACE.

DEVICE FOR HANGING MAPS OR CURTAINS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 441,994, dated December2, 1890.

Application filed June 5, 1890. Serial No. 354,386. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT J. WA'rTs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Shelbyville, in the county of Shelby and State of 5 Indiana,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Devices for HangingMaps or Curtains; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full,clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use thesame.

This invention relates to an improved device for hanging maps, curtains,window-shades, or other similar objects, the object of the r5'inventionbeing to provide a simple, cheap, and efficient device whereby the saidobjects can be easily and quickly supported and adjusted and kept freefrom dust and anything else which might tend to injure the same; and

the invention consists in the construction, arrangement,and combinationof parts, substantially as will be hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, illustrating 2 5 my invention, Figure l isa front elevation of my improved device for supporting curtains, maps,Window-shades, or the like, showing it as arranged for supporting acurtain, the latter being represented in its depending position belowthe device. Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial longitudinal section of thesame, showing the interior structure, together with one of theornamental end pieces, which is removed from the end of the tube andrepresented in elevation. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the device.

Like letters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout allthe different figures of the drawings.

A denotes a cylinder or tube of suitable diameter and length and adaptedto contain therein when the latter is properly rolled a curtain, window-shade, or other similar object or thing which it is the purpose ofthe said This cylindrical tube A is the main and essential feature ofthe invention. It may be made of wood, leather, tin, brass, or any othersuitable material or substance to suit the taste of the user and producethe best results in actual practice. On one side it is formed with alongitudinal slit or slot or opening a, running from one end of the tubeto the other. (See Figs. 2 and 3.) Through this slit passes the curtain,map, or other object when unrolling. Thus it will be seen that thecurtain, map, &c., may be rolled up completely upon any suitable rollerlocated within the protectingcylinder A, and may be unrolled so as todepend below the supporting device in proper position to be exposed toview or to perform the several functions that respectively attach todevices of the sort hereinabove enumerated.

The cylinder A is provided with a suitable number of encircling rings 0C. There may be any number of these as may be desired. They serve topreserve the form of the cylinder and strengthen the same, makingitbetter able to perform its functions.

BB designate ornamental end pieces. These maybe of any shape, size, orconfiguration in appearance. They preferably are made symmetrical, so asto embellish and beautify the appearance of the device. In the drawingsit will be seen that they are formed with round globular parts, and theyalso have cylindrical portions B of proper size and diameter to beinserted into the open end of the tube A. In Fig. 1 the ornamental endsare shown in position with their parts B within the ends of the tube. InFig. 2 it will be seen how the ornamental end piece is connected to thetube by inserting the cylindrical part B into the end of the latter.

The two rings 0 0 located nearest the ends of the cylinder A arearranged to slide or be adjusted upon the cylinder. Hence they can beslid away from the ends of the cylinder into the position shown in Fig.2, thus per- 0 mitting the ornamental ends to be more readily insertedinto the ends of the cylinder, after which these end rings 0 can beadjusted toward the end of the cylinder until they lie close up againstthe flanges on 5 the ornamental end pieces, as shown in Fig. 1. Thesecond ring C from each end is preferably furnished with a smallring orloop 0, to which a strap, cord, or other supporting device may beconnected for the purpose of I00 l l l 2 t l hanging the device in asuitable position. Furthermore, it will be noted that each of the rings0 C is provided at a proper point with a small ring or loop cl. Theseare situated similarly, so that there is furnished a series of theseloops (1 d, to which lace curtains or other things may be attached andthereby supported, thus enabling the cylinder to serve a doublepurposeto wit, that of supporting and protecting a curtain, map, orsimilar object, and, second, that of furnishing a support for the laceor other curtain.

Within the cylinder A is the roller on which the curtain, map,window-shade, or other object is to be wound. E denotes an example ofthis roller, and D an example of a curtain wound thereon. Obviously theroller must be supported within the tube in such a way that it mayproperly perform its functions. Preferably this roller will be aspring-roller, so constructed that the curtain or other device may beautomatically held at any point to which it may be adjusted by themanipulation of the end thereof, which projects through the slit athereof in the cylinder. In orderto conveniently support the rollerwithin the tube, I provide brackets, which are securedto the wall of thetube. F denotes one of these brackets. It is shown in Fig. 2. There isof course another similar bracket at the other end of the roller.

The bracket F is simply a right-angled piece of metal having one armprojecting at right angles to the direction of the cylinder A,

which arm is suitably slotted or perforated to permit the journal on theend of the springroller E to be properly held therein. The other arm ofthe bracket F is perforated to permit the passage therethrough of thescrew e, which also passes through the wall of the cylinder A, and isprovided on the outside with a thumb-screw f, so that by tightening orloosening the thumb-screw the bracket may be secured in position orremoved at any time when it may be desired to dislocate the roller. Itwill be obvious that these brackets F may be situated at greater or lessdistances from the ends of the cylinder A.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The combination of the slotted cylinder, the series of ringsencircling the same, two of said rings being provided with loops orrings for the attachment of cords for supporting the device, all of saidrings being provided with loops for the attachment of outside curtains,the ornamental end pieces connectedto the tube, the interior brackets,and the curtain or other roller supported by said brackets. V

2. The combination, with the slotted cylinder A, of the right-angledbrackets F F, secured to the walls of the tube, the screw e and theset-screw f for holding said brackets in position, and the curtain orother roller, as E, supported by the brackets, substantially asdescribed. 7

The combination of the cylindrical tube A, having the longitudinal slita, the series of rings 0 C, encircling the tube, two of said ringshaving supplemental rings 0 c, the ornamental end pieces B B, theinterior brackets F F, and the curtain or other roller E, supported bysaid brackets, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT J. \VATTS. Witnesses:

ISAAC CARTER, ALONZO BLAIR.

